AUDIENCE TRENDS AND NZ FILM

NOTES ON NZ FILM

๐ŸŽฌ NZ Film Industry (2025) Overview

  • Thriving industry with strong local + global momentum.

  • Popular location for blockbusters (e.g. Avatar, The Rings of Power).

  • Renowned for landscapes, skilled crews, and top-tier facilities (e.g. Wฤ“tฤ FX).

๐Ÿ“ฝ️ Successful NZ Films

  • We Were Dangerous – explores young Mฤori women; festival success.

  • The Convert – colonial-era drama starring Guy Pearce.

  • Uproar – coming-of-age story with international reach.

  • Indigenous films (Muru, Cousins, Whina) are gaining traction.

๐Ÿ—ฃ️ Mฤori & Pasifika Representation

  • Stronger presence in front of and behind the camera.

  • Supported by NZ On Air and Te Mฤngai Pฤho funding.

  • High demand for authentic indigenous storytelling.

๐Ÿ’ฐ Funding & Global Partnerships

  • Increased NZ Film Commission funding.

  • More international co-productions.

  • Streaming platforms investing in NZ-based content.

  • Supported by government incentives for local and global filmmakers.

๐Ÿ“Š Audience Behaviour & Media Trends

  • Digital media dominates:

    • Online video: 68% daily use

    • SVOD (Netflix, Disney+): 57%

    • TVNZ+: fastest-growing (27% daily reach)

  • Top platforms: YouTube (44%), Netflix (42%), Facebook video (36%)

๐Ÿ•ฐ️ Media Time Use

  • NZ audiences spend more time on digital than traditional media.

  • Trend spans all age groups.

  • Linear TV no longer dominates prime time.

๐Ÿ“ฐ News & Trust

  • Stuff = most-used news website

  • TVNZ = most trusted news source

๐Ÿ“ˆ Industry Insight from NZ On Air

  • Shift to platform-agnostic funding (supports both streaming + broadcast).

  • Focus on:

    • Audience data to guide investment

    • Promoting NZ content to help audiences find it

  • Success with dramas released on both linear + digital platforms

✅ Conclusion

  • NZ film in 2025 blends global success with strong local and indigenous storytelling.

  • Rapid growth in digital viewership reshapes how NZ audiences access content.

  • Flexible funding and increased promotion are helping the industry adapt.

WHO IS ATTENDING THE CINEMA + FACTORS INFLUENCING THE OUTCOMES

๐ŸŽŸ️ Who Is Attending the Cinema?

๐Ÿ‘ถ By Age

  • 18–34 (Younger audiences):

    • Most active cinema-goers.

    • Love action, sci-fi, and fantasy (Marvel, Harry Potter).

    • Often without children — more time and freedom to attend.

  • 35–44:

    • Still engaged with cinema; balance between family content and mature narratives.

  • 65+:

    • Least likely to attend; 30% say they never go.

    • Prefer nostalgic or feel-good films, but often opt for home viewing.

๐Ÿšป By Gender

  • Men:

    • Historically prefer action, but now exploring more genres (e.g. drama, rom-com).

    • 46% are regular cinema-goers.

  • Women:

    • Traditionally prefer emotional, character-driven films.

    • 37% go to the cinema often or sometimes.

    • Growing interest in action and blockbusters.

๐Ÿ’ต By Income

  • High-income (75K+):

    • Attend more frequently.

    • Over twice as likely to visit the cinema 5+ times in 6 months.

  • Low-income (under $50K):

    • Less likely to attend due to cost.

    • Prefer streaming for affordability.

๐Ÿ‘จ‍๐Ÿ‘ฉ‍๐Ÿ‘ง By Family Status

  • With children:

    • Prefer family-oriented and animated films.

    • Go to cinema less often due to logistical and financial reasons.

  • Without children:

    • Broader genre interests, more freedom to attend frequently.

๐ŸŒ By Location

  • Urban:

    • More access to theaters and diverse films.

    • Higher cinema attendance.

  • Rural:

    • Limited access to cinemas.

    • Preference for mainstream or family content.

๐ŸŽ“ By Education

  • Higher education:

    • Diverse tastes (e.g. indie, thought-provoking dramas).

  • Lower education:

    • Prefer mainstream and accessible narratives.

๐Ÿงพ Factors Influencing Cinema Attendance

๐Ÿ’ก Positive Influences

  • The experience itself:

    • 60% say cinema is a unique experience.

    • 53% value the lack of distractions.

  • Committed moviegoers (5% of adults):

    • Want immersive experiences (e.g. 3D, comfy seats, memberships).

    • Less motivated by discounts.

๐Ÿ“‰ Barriers / Declining Attendance Causes

  • Cost-of-living crisis:

    • 60% prefer watching movies at home to save money.

    • 75% say cheaper tickets would encourage more visits.

  • Streaming rise:

    • 48% prefer movies released directly to streaming.

    • 51% say fast streaming releases make cinema feel less special.

  • Convenience:

    • Digital media is more accessible and personalized.

    • Audiences now spend more time on digital than traditional media.

๐ŸŽฏ Key Takeaway

Cinema attendance is highest among young, high-income, urban audiences without children.
The shift toward streaming and affordability is shaping behavior, while immersive, premium cinema experiences keep loyal audiences engaged.
Understanding demographics is crucial for the film industry to tailor content, pricing, and marketing effectively.

HOW DID NZ CINEMA FARE OVER SUMMER?

๐Ÿ“Š How Did NZ Cinema Fare Over Summer?

(November 28, 2024 – February 2, 2025)

๐ŸŽฌ Overall Performance

  • 1.83 million admissions over summer — a +9% increase from the previous year.

  • Signifies a strong bounce back and growing audience appetite for the big screen experience.

๐Ÿ‘ฅ Audience Demographics

  • P14–24 (youth): +11% growth

  • P18–39 & P25–54: +4% growth

  • Indicates strong cross-generational appeal, especially among young people and families.

⭐ Top-Performing Films

  1. Moana 2 – 502,000 admissions

    • 2nd highest-grossing animated film ever in NZ

    • Surpassed Inside Out 2

  2. Wicked – 286,000 admissions

    • Strong performance for a live-action musical

  3. Mufasa: The Lion King – 222,000 admissions

    • Reinforces the Lion King franchise’s continued appeal

  4. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 – 210,000 admissions

    • Franchise's highest-grossing film in NZ

  5. Paddington in Peru – 132,000 admissions

    • Highest-grossing in the Paddington franchise

๐Ÿ—ฃ️ Industry Insight

  • Matt Tremain (Val Morgan Cinema NZ):

    • “Growth proves cinema’s strong place in the hearts of Kiwis”

    • Predicts ongoing momentum through 2025 due to major releases

๐Ÿ”ฎ What’s Next for 2025?

  • Major youth/family films on the way:

    • A Minecraft Movie, How To Train Your Dragon, F1

  • Big franchise films:

    • Mission: Impossible 8, 28 Years Later, Zootopia 2, Wicked: For Good, Jurassic World: Rebirth, Superman, The Fantastic Four

    • Highly anticipated: Avatar: Fire and Ash

✅ Conclusion

NZ cinema had a very successful summer in 2024–2025, with rising admissions and blockbuster family films driving growth, especially among younger audiences. With a strong 2025 lineup ahead, the industry is well-positioned for continued success


INFORMATION ON MY CASE STUDY FILMS:

What were box office numbers for your films? 

Avatar: The Way Of Water:  Worldwide Gross: $2.32 billion
These figures position it as the third-highest-grossing film of all time, following Avatar (2009) and Avengers: Endgame (2019)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Budget: Estimated at $13 million.
Worldwide Total: Approximately $33.4 million

(What correlations do your numbers have with the type of release? (for example, was it during Covid, was it released simultaneously online to streaming?) (TO BE CONTINUED)

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